Israel/Palestine post 10/7 - follow-on events/thoughts as relate to other countries

The Philly police raided the Upenn encampment this morning.

As a Philadelphia native and a West Philly resident as well as an observer of the world at large, I can say with conviction that UPenn is one of the most evil, nefarious institutions in the entire United States.

(that obviously was true before this morning, but the school loves driving the point home)

UPenn vs Oakland PD?

Though I am assuming UPenn is more intelligent by a country mile

Wharton grads don't have the best rep these days, that's for sure.

I hear one is going to be our next President though

From Adam Johnson:

https://open.substack.com/pub/thecolumn/p/why-does-the-nyt-keep-lying-about

The stakes of this lie—or, at best, wishful thinking based on vibes and assumptions of White House necessary doublespeak—could not be higher. It’s not a small fact. Because if the Biden team can paint themselves as good-faith peacemakers “trying to end the war” simply running into headstrong Hamas and Israeli negotiators, then they morally and optically wash their hands of the on-going carnage. If they can show good intention, if not results, they can stem off the ever-growing anger of their arming, funding, and supporting Israel’s campaign of de-population and mass killing. When a 1,500-word article about Arab and Muslim anger over Biden begins by asserting that they’re mad despite “the president piling new pressure on Israel to end the war,” it makes those refusing to back him seem hot-headed, irrational and unmovable, which is entirely the point. But they have no reason to believe he’s actually trying to end the war, because—despite assertions made by the New York Times over and over again—the White House doesn’t claim it is. And if it is, indeed, secretly fine with Israel calling it, and leaving Hamas in Gaza, then this would be an explosive, 180-degree shift in policy the Times should probably dedicate a few reporters to clarifying and laying out. Absent this actual news reporting, their reporters and editors should probably stop making up peace-loving White House policy goals that we have no evidence exist.  

NEW: The Biden administration just announced that it has accepted the Israeli government’s assurances that it is not violating U.S. or international law in its prosecution of the war in Gaza, a conclusion at odds with assessments made by the UN and international aid groups

— John Hudson (@John_Hudson) May 10, 2024

lol cmon what

Regular accused criminals outta try this new defence out in the US courts I reckon

Guys it's OK, they checked and they're not war criming. But good question!

And if it is, indeed, secretly fine with Israel calling it, and leaving Hamas in Gaza, then this would be an explosive, 180-degree shift in policy

It ... wouldn't, though? The line that Israel will have "lost" or "surrendered" if Hamas remains in power, even with its military capability in ruins and the hostages freed, is purely a Netanyahu thing, not as far as I know a Biden thing. Where Biden has been consistent is in saying that Israel has the right to defend itself and will continue to get US support in doing so. But Biden has never committed himself to "any amount of destruction counts as self-defense."

An incredible essay from one of the teenagers shot in Burlington in November: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/opinion/politics/i-was-shot-in-vermont-what-if-it-had-been-in-the-west-bank.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU0.59aZ.dBBiIdBepEBZ&smid=url-share

When I was still in the hospital, my family and I were visited by a friend who had just recently made it out of Gaza. He recounted how he saw the beginning of the Israeli bombing from his balcony, and soon after showered and left his house with a prepacked bag. He told me of tents, of hunger, of explosions, but there is one thing that really stood out for me as he recounted his ordeal.

He explained how the only way for him to survive in Gaza was to accept that he had already died. Only after he had come to terms with the realization that his life as he knew it was over could he enjoy a puff of a cigarette and a sip of coffee in the morning. This acceptance is the goal of the Israeli dehumanization complex. To be Palestinian today is to accept this fate.

I have been back on campus since February, and the adjustment has been tough. The man who is accused of shooting me has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted second-degree murder. But my mind is elsewhere. Every morning when I wake up, I check for one number. It has exceeded 35,000. It’s difficult for me to come to terms with the reality of so much loss.
In class, between Mesopotamian myths and commutative algebra, a few thoughts play on a loop in my mind: How can we come back from so much grief? How could we let this happen? What are we supposed to make of the world when Palestinian deaths are excused by talking points, repeated again and again on the news? I yearn to return to my home, to my olive trees, my cats and my family.

Thank you for that, heartbreaking

Meanwwhile, Ilan Pappe stopped and questioned for several hours at Detroit airport

https://x.com/jeremyscahill/status/1790874217828827473

tipsy probably knows more about it than me but my sister spent all night at the county jail supporting arrested protestors in Knoxville, including beloved falafel guy Yassin.

short documentary about him here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz4Q_SlbZgQ

Yeah, here's a little roundup we wrote on it today fwiw:

Yassin Terou, the well-known and widely lauded proprietor of Yassin's Falafel House, was reportedly arrested along with other pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Tennessee on Wednesday evening.

WBIR-TV reported that Terou was part of a group taken into custody by UT Police. The group had gathered for a Nakba Day Vigil, remembering the expulsion of Palestinians by Israelis during the 1948 war that led to Israel's establishment. The event was organized by the People's School for Gaza, which has been leading protest efforts on campus.

Apparently the issue was where the protesters chose to assemble. UT had told the group it could conduct its protests on a plaza near the Student Union. Tisha Benton, vice chancellor of communications for UT Knoxville, told the News Sentinel that UT police attempted to move protesters away from the lawn in front of the College of Law on Cumberland Avenue and those who refused to leave were arrested.

UT confirmed 11 arrests last night, according to the News Sentinel. Observers on site — as well as news photographers — identified Terou as among those taken into custody.

Terou, a Syrian refugee who started his popular falafel chain 10 years ago after selling sandwiches outside a local mosque, has become a cultural fixture in Knoxville and beyond. He has long advocated for tolerance and inclusiveness of many kinds, has led food aid efforts after natural disasters, and recently started a nonprofit called Seeds and Bridges focused on helping people without housing.

In 2018, his restaurant was named the Readers Digest Nicest Place in America and was featured on ABC's Good Morning America. He served as master of ceremonies for Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon's 2019 inauguration ceremony.

He even serves on the Board of Visitors of UT's Department of Religious Studies. A profile of Terou on the department's website says, "We appreciate all that he has done and continues to do to strengthen our community and bring people together and we look forward to bringing his unique voice and boundless energy to our students."

Terou has also been active in pro-Palestinian efforts in recent months, calling for an end to the war in Gaza and providing food to protesters at public events.

"I'm doing my part at least, and I'm gonna be who I am," he told WBIR in an interview last week. "I'm gonna ask them to stop the killing of any civilians, any innocent people, anywhere."

damn. I love that falafel place.

May go there for lunch today. I doubt he'll lose much business over this, people who go there in general are probably sympathetic, but I'd like to show some support.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNL_3kuGqz0

Worthwhile vid connecting what Adam Tooze has written about how badly Columbia’s endowments have been managed and connecting that up with how our ruling elite are completely incompetent now across the board

Also a shorter talk here on the cycles of left protest/recuperation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KelbwZUo_5o

Beautiful.

Absolutely LOVE this. Suella Braverman gets the silent treatment she deserves 😂

Not even worthy of a response. Bloody brilliant.pic.twitter.com/pobNu2Xxw2

— Bushra Shaikh (@Bushra1Shaikh) May 16, 2024

lol

Who is on the megaphone?

Oh, it's my son. pic.twitter.com/co4ZtdLgMe

— Claire Hopkin 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@claireindubai) May 16, 2024

I'd camp anywhere for the chance to ice out Suella, congrats to those kids!

The Sonoma State president has been put on leave by the CSU for agreeing to protesters' demands:
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/15/sonoma-state-president-leave-gaza-00158285

Meanwhile afaict the UCLA pres has suffered zero consequences for allowing a violent extremist mob to assault students for hours

Well.

America’s romantic mythology and wishful thinking about Israel encourage a tendency to see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the main cause of the ruthlessness in Gaza, where Israel has killed more than 35,000 people. The unpopular, scandal-ridden premier makes a convincing ogre in an oversimplified story.

But Israel’s slaughter in Gaza, the creeping famine, the wholesale destruction of neighborhoods — this, polling suggests, is the war the Israeli public wanted. A January survey found that 94 percent of Jewish Israelis said the force being used against Gaza was appropriate or even insufficient. In February, a poll found that most Jewish Israelis opposed food and medicine getting into Gaza. It was not Mr. Netanyahu alone but also his war cabinet members (including Benny Gantz, often invoked as the moderate alternative to Mr. Netanyahu) who unanimously rejected a Hamas deal to free Israeli hostages and, instead, began an assault on the city of Rafah, overflowing with displaced civilians.

“It’s so much easier to put everything on Netanyahu, because then you feel so good about yourself and Netanyahu is the darkness,” said Gideon Levy, an Israeli journalist who has documented Israel’s military occupation for decades. “But the darkness is everywhere.”

Have seen a few polls pretty much saying that the majority of the Israeli public are more than fine with what's happening. To place this solely on Netanyahu or the far-right is to not want to face this.

According to the poll cited:

Breaking down the Jewish sample by political orientation reveals that a majority of those on the Left support allowing international bodies to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza (59%), while the Center is divided on this issue, and a large majority of those on the Right think that Israel should not allow the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents.

Regarding the transfer of humanitarian aid, a large majority of Arab Israeli respondents support it (85%).

grim stats

indeed

Beautiful.

🐦[Absolutely LOVE this. Suella Braverman gets the silent treatment she deserves 😂

Not even worthy of a response. Bloody brilliant.pic.twitter.com/pobNu2Xxw2🕸
— Bushra Shaikh (@Bushra1Shaikh) May 16, 2024🕸]🐦

"Can I ask what your view is of the events of October 7th?"

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman is crushed on GB News. pic.twitter.com/u6PGo9jatI

— MintPress News (@MintPressNews) May 17, 2024

that is genuinely the best thing I've seen all year

Very good tick

ICC prosecutor Karim Khan during CNN interview today:

“I had some elected leader speak to me and be very blunt, this court [ICC] was built for Africa and thugs like Putin” pic.twitter.com/bsGi5s7ayX

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) May 21, 2024

The ironic thing is that, apparently, he is the ICC prosecutor due to nomination by the UK and strong support form Israel and the US.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/22/palestinian-state-recognition-ireland-spain-recognise-palestine

Pretty big deal for Spain to recognize anyone or anything

Maybe Trump supporters will vote for Joe now.

Biden administration signals it will support bipartisan push to sanction ICC https://t.co/RkHGbYKw1P

— Financial Times (@FT) May 21, 2024

Shameful.

This is probably a dumb question, but for countries that don't recognize Palestine do they say its part of Israel?

But if it were part of Israel then "occupied territories" makes no sense. Israel itself doesn't say the occupied territories are actually part of Israel. So who are they occupied from if there is no such thing as a Palestine to occupy?

The eternal logical conundrum. “Israel has a right to defend itself?” “From Palestine?” “There is no Palestine!” “So the people who live there are Israelis?” “No, they’re Palestinians!” “They live in Palestine?” “There is no Palestine.”

Etc

Not quite there's also "there's no such thing as Palestinians".

Right. But! Israel has a right to defend itself against them.

Ok, but whats the steel man position of it? Occupied Egypt and occupied Jordan, respectively? Do the countries that don't recognize Palestine categorize Gaza as occupied Egypt? They can't categorize it as part of Israel, as even Israel doesn't categorize it as part of Israel. Where is Gaza considered to be, legally, in the UK or US?

Well that's the thing, right? We just don't talk about it. I mean, as more or less official policy. Israel doesn't talk about it so we don't talk about it. You'd think you couldn't sustain that kind of obvious illogic for decades and decades, yet here we are. There's no solid position Israel's allies can commit to about the Palestinian territories that won't create problems for Israel, so we don't. The U.S. is officially against the expansion of West Bank settlements, but obviously all that ever amounts to is some tut-tutting, no one has ever suggested any kind of real consequences for it.

I need to deep dive on this more, I hadn't actually realized that when Egypt had it, they themselves did same thing as Israel in occupying but not annexing

Official U.S. policy (per the State Dept website) is that the U.S. still recognizes the Palestinian Authority as an official voice for people in the "Palestinian territories" and is committed to an eventual-someday-somehow two-state solution. But that language probably hasn't changed in 20 years and it implicitly just leaves the status of both the land and its residents in total legal limbo for the interim.

surprised the US and UK don’t call it “The Palestine”